Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune bullous disease whose therapy is based on
systemic corticosteroids, with or without immunosuppressants. Rituximab is a chimeric
monoclonal antibody of the IgG class, directed at a specific CD20 B cell surface
antigen, used in pemphigus vulgaris empirically since 2002, with success in 90% of
the cases and long periods of remission. Male patient, 33 years old, diagnosed with
pemphigus vulgaris, confirmed by histopathology and direct immunofluorescence. He was
treated for seven months with numerous treatments, including immunosuppressive drugs,
with an unsatisfactory response, until he had complete remission with the use of
rituximab. During a 34-month follow-up period, the patient presented a slight
clinical relapse, which was successfully controlled with prednisone in a daily dose
of 120mg, soon reduced to 20mg.
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